John Drane's 'Introducing the New Testament' has long been recognized as probably the most authoritative and accessible survey of the subject, both for students and for general readers. This classic work has been revised and updated, taking full account of recent scholarly developments and archaeological findings. These include areas such as the historical Jesus, the theologies of the four Gospels, and the role of St Paul in the transformation of Christianity from a first century Jewish sect into a separate movement that was to spread throughout the world. This authoritative text has now been further enhanced by the introduction throughout of full colour illustrations and photographs, maps and diagrams. Praise for the 2nd Edition: 'This book has arguably been the most useful and user-friendly non-technical introduction to the New Testament available.' - David Wenham, Tutor in New Testament, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford

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More About the Author

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Review

'This book has arguably been the most useful and user-friendly non-technical introduction to the New Testament available.' -- David Wenham, Tutor in New Testament, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford

About the Author

JOHN DRANE taught practical theology at the University of Aberdeen until 2004. He is also an Adjunct Professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary, California, and a visiting Professor at Morling College, Sydney. His other publications include Introducing the Old Testament and The Bible Phenomenon.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

This book by John Drane is a masterpiece. Drane approaches the subject from an evangelical christian point of view. He is not scared to examine points of view that he disagrees with, but at the same time he will let no current social convention come between himself and what he believes the text of the New Testament to actually mean.This book does not just cover the theology of the New Testament but also looks at the socio-political climate that the New Testament was written in and that the first christians lived in.Whilst the books simplicity makes it best for the A-Level student or the general reader, it is also good for the undergraduate university student as an easy read and enjoyable quick introduction to the New Testament in order to provide an initial orientation to the subject matter at hand.This is a book that I freely recommend to anybody wanting to take initial steps into the delightful world of the New Testament.

John Drane has impeccable credentials as a conservative theologian and an evangelical Christian, and yet (unlike some other "evo" authors) he can write in an honest and even-handed way about more liberal opinions than his own.This makes Drane a particularly valuable resource for theologically conservative students who need to know about controversial modern views in Bible scholarship, but do not want to feel that their text book is necessarily endorsing them or taking a condescending approach to the divine inspiration and historical authenticity of Holy Scripture.This book is not primarily about doctrine - it is first and foremost a book about the Bible, designed to help a Christian reader understand what the Bible is really saying. In doing so it takes for granted the basic principle of Bible exegesis that you cannot work out what the Bible is saying to the Church today without understanding what it was saying (and why) to the Church of the 1st and 2nd centuries.This would thus be an invaluable book for any first-year theology student or for the general reader wishing to know more about the historical and cultural roots of the New Testament and the early church. Although other writers have produced more stylish and attractive prose, Drane is wonderfully clear, interesting and easy to follow. More intricate explanations are in self-contained sections carefully boxed beside the main narrative, so that they can be skipped by the more casual reader without interrupting the book's flow.The book's monochrome illustrations and diagrams are not of outstanding originality or beauty, but they are invariably well chosen and helpful. Moreover the physical binding of the paperback edition I am using is robust and has a nice feel to it.Strongly recommended.

In contrast to the next reviewer down, I find `Introducing the New Testament' invaluable to my studies (I'm just finishing the first year of a degree course with the London School of Theology). John Drane's easy-going style even when dealing with sometimes complex theological issues, coupled with the wonderfully user-friendly book layout (see my review of Drane's `Introducing the Old Testament') make this an excellent title. There is more than enough scholarly information here to begin serious NT studying while still being easily accessible enough for more casual Bible study.

I have been fortunate in being able to compare this revised edition with the previous edition: there has been a small but significant "sharpening up" of the text and the above mentioned layout has changed (and improved) greatly, and there is also (at least one) completely new Special Article - `The gospels as Graeco-Roman biography' (P168). It's surprising how much difference - and how greatly positive that difference is - between first and revised editions of this book.

As I said in my review of `Introducing the OT', this title should be considered mandatory to anyone even vaguely interested in Christian or biblical things.

For practical purposes this is quite the best introduction to the New Testament I have come across. I read Theology at Oxford University in the 1980s and am a practising Catholic. The book gives a thorough survey of modern and not-so-modern scholarship, and presents the arguments for and against "orthodox" views in a fair, albeit somewhat Protestant way.

Why only four stars? First, because the author insists on bringing in his private views on modern political issues like colonialism, the position of women and so forth, which is unnecessary and irritating to readers like me who broadly share his theological views but not his politics.

Secondly, because the book joins the growing tendency towards repetition. It is also crying out for an editor who has a strong grasp of English grammar and style. If it runs to another edition, I volunteer!

This book provides a clear, easy to read account of the New Testament. The author gives a substantial overview of the social-political-religious context of the writing of the NT which is not bogged down in scholarly language. As an A-level Theology teacher, I needed a book not only to enhance my own background reading, but also one which I could recommend to my students as being accessible and interesting to read; this book fits that criteria.